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HUMANOID ROBOTICS / THE SKELETON

Links & bearings

Rigid links carry loads between joints. Bearings, guides, and ball screws support motion while limiting friction, play, and mechanical weight.

How this system works

Inner and outer races constrain motion while rolling elements carry the robot’s loads.

Rolling elements transfer loads between the bearing rings while allowing them to rotate relative to each other.

Illustrative bearing & structural link with its component parts separated for study
Illustrative bearing & structural link. Designs differ by manufacturer; the model is not an OEM bill of materials.

What to look for: The ball cage between two bearing races, plus seals and the shaft interface.

Read the engineering reference

Compare the right roles

Bearings, linear motion, or structural links?

Bearings support relative motion; guides and ball screws provide constrained or driven movement. Those product capabilities do not establish manufacture of the robot’s load-bearing structural links.

Why are some parts missing company matches?

The current universe has no verified direct match for the illustrated structural link. We show that gap rather than treating any bearing supplier as a structural-link manufacturer.

NSK brings an established robot-bearing business. THK and HIWIN offer focused linear-motion exposure; Schaeffler combines bearings with a growing humanoid component portfolio.

Open each company below for its source and limitations. Sector membership does not establish a confirmed supply contract.

Inside the assembly

Outer bearing race

The outer race locates the bearing in its housing and provides one of the rolling-contact surfaces.

Stock-link scope: Complete bearing manufacturers; their products incorporate races. This is not a list of independent race-ring subcontractors.

Rolling elements & cage

Rolling elements carry loads with low friction; a cage maintains their spacing.

Stock-link scope: Rolling-bearing products integrate rolling elements and cages. Designs may use balls, rollers, or crossed rollers.

Inner race & shaft interface

The inner ring interfaces with a shaft or moving link. Stiffness and precision affect how accurately a robot holds position.

Stock-link scope: Bearing manufacturers with robot-relevant products; a specific inner-race supply agreement is not asserted.

COMPANY RESEARCH

Links & bearings stocks

Full directory

Evidence groupings are not investment ratings. Companies may appear in multiple sectors.